Glue applicator for labeling machines



May 2, 1950 H. E. BURG GLUE APPLICATDR FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. J/a'iaw 6'.

A T r o R N E vs May 2, 1950 1-1. E. BURG GLUE APPLICATOR FOR LABELING MACHINES Filed Sept. 28, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 kw m a a am km mm RN AN fi T s m w 0 8 ML flm) QM! GNQN m M. Q Q. I a QM N%\ I 8 M Q W NOH N WR

ATTORNEYS May 2, 1950 H. E. BURG GLUE APPLICATOR FOR LABELING MACHINES w 3 n m a w w W M M a M Fw fi mfi I t E m a Q fi N w J E m NW w w n m @S w R TIL K May 2, 1950 H. E. BURG GLUE APPLICATOR FOR LABELING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 28, 1946 NEH & "w

Mace CE.-

ATTORNEYS Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GLUE APPLICATOB FOR LABELING MACHINES Horace E. Burg, Hanover, Pa", assignor to Food Machinery and Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 2a, 1946, Serial No. 099,971

1 9 Claims.

This invention relates to labeling machines such as are utilized for applying labels to cans. jars and the like, and more particularly to an improved glue applicator for use in such machines.

In the prior United States Letters Patent No. 2,079,321 to A. H. Kyier, there is illustrated a complete labeling machine into which the unlabeled can or jar is fed on a runway and from which the completely labeled container is discharged. The present invention finds its optimum environment in a labeling machine of the type of this patent and is particularly designed as an improved glue applicator replacing the applicator designated as 69 in the aforesaid patent. In this aforesaid patent there is illustrated a glue applicator of the roll type. and the present invention contemplates the substitution of an applicator oi the tandem chain type.

One of the disadvantages of the previous types oi applicators is the fact that they are not readily adiustable to accommodate the full range of container sizes commonly employed in modern industry. or, accordingly, the varying sizes of labels applied thereto.

It is therefore one object of this invention to improve such labeling machines by adapting the glue applicators thereof to accommodate this extreme range of sizes.

It is a further object of this invention to adapt such labeling machines for coincident adjustment both in the size of the container and the length, longitudinally thereof, of the label to be applied.

It is a further object of this invention to adapt such a labeling machine to accommodate the aforementioned complete range of container sizes and yet to apply thereto either full wrap labeling or spot labeling as desired.

It is a further object of this invention to improve the precision of adjustment both'for accommodating varying sizes of cans and for applyin various sizes or labels.

It is a primary feature of this invention to provide a glue applicator which is adjustable with respect to its associated glue pot.

It is another primary feature of this invention to employ a common glue pot in which are adjustably positioned a plurality of glue applicating members, two in the embodiment shown.

It is another feature of this invention to provide, in addition to the adjustable glue applicators. means for adjusting the entire applicating mechanism, including the glue pot. with respect to the remainder of the labeling machine.

It is a further feature of this invention to pro- 2 vide a labeling machine having the aforesaid features and employing novel drive mechanism permitting realization of these features.

It is a further feature of this invention to employ novel mechanism for readily adjusting the position of the glue applicators within the glue o0 It is a further feature of this invention that the drive mechanisms of the various glue applicators are themselves made adjustable along the machine, thus permitting unhampered adjustment of the applicators.

The foregoing objects, advantages and features will be apparent from the annexed specification in which is described a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is an end elevation of a glue applicator embodying the present invention, showing a can in position for application of the glue.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 3-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line H of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a section taken along the lines 5-! of Figures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a section taken along the finest-4 of Figures 3 and 4. a I

Figure 7 is a section taken along the line 1-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 8 is a section taken along the line 0-4 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section taken along the line 9-8 of Figure 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings', there is shown an improved glue applicator, indicated generally at 4 and including a pan 5 and a base bolted together as by machine screws I and I. The base i is provided with set screws 9 which form adjustable legs for supporting the pot on I the channel frame llil of the labeling machine. The set screws 9 are adjusted in practice to level the mechanism properly with respect to the other elements of the labeling machine and are then locked in place with suitable locking mechanism (not shown.)

The applicator mechanism is secured to the labeling machine by the clamps ii. There are two clamps ii located at opposite ends of the base i and each includes a threadably attached rod I: provided with a. wing nut H. The rods I! are retained in brackets i3 secured to the sides of the base by suitable fastening mechanism such as hexhead screws shown. When the wing nuts i4 are turned to cause the clamping mechanism to function, the clamps bear against and engage the plate which forms a permanent part and a stationary member of the labeling machine. The plate I5 is provided with elongated clearance holes Hi to allow vertical movement of the clamping rods as the applicator mechanism is adjusted in height by means of the set screws 9. The clamp II is formed with an inwardly extending shoulder overlapping the plate l5 and serving to prevent excessive turning of the clamps when the rods |2 are turned by means of the winged nuts [4. Inasmuch as the foregoing clamping mechanism constitutes the means of securing the glue applicator 4 to the label ng machine, it will be apparent that the entire glue applicator is adjustable along the labeling machine longitudinally by means of sliding the clamp along the plate l5, the rod l2 sliding in slot I5 and vertically by adjusting the length of the legs 9.

Attached to the glue pan 5 are two spur gear racks l8 and I9. Rack I8 is bolted directly to the side of the pan 5 by hexhead screws 29. Rack I9 is secured to the cross brace 2| by suitable cap screws 22. The cross brace 2| flts between the walls of the pan and is rigidly secured thereto by cap screws 23. Another cross brace 24 located toward the rear of the pan is mounted in a similar manner. These members constitute support for other mechanism hereinafter described. Adjustably mounted toward the for-- ward side of the glue pot 5 is a bar 25. Suitable slots are formed in the bar 25 to clear the side walls 25 of the pot 5. The bar 25 is supported by the brackets 21 which in turn are secured to the sides walls 26 of the pan by the hexhead bolts 28. The brackets 'are formed, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 2, of angle irons and are provided in the horizontally extending portion with elongated slots 29 through which a cap screw 39 passes. This cap screw 30 is threaded into the bar and functions as a clamp to hold the bar in place after adjustments have been made.

- Mounted on the upper surface of the cross brace 24 is a strap 3| which is secured in place,

by the cap screws 32. This strap 3| is formed with a marginal lip 33 extending rearwardly which constitutes a guideway for sliding posts to be described hereinafter. 0n the cross brace 2| is a similar strap 34 having a lip 35 which forms a guideway for another set of posts. This strap 34 is bolted in place by the cap screws 35.

Resting on the cross braces 2| and 24 are two adhesive chain mechanism supporting posts 31 and 33. These posts are provided with slots or recesses adapted to slip over the guides in their respective straps 34 and 3|. They are held in fixed relation with each other and in sliding alignment with the guides by the plate 39, which is secured in place by cap screws and a plate 39' similarly attached. Passing through the bore 4| in the posts 31 and 33 is a rod 42. This rod is fixed longitudinally by set collars 43 and 44 secured in position by set screws in the usual manner. At the rear end of the rod 42 a spur gear 45 is' permanently afllxed as by welding or brazing. A similar gear 45 is secured on the rod at a spaced distance toward the forward end.

' The gears 45 and 45 are so spaced on the rod as to' mesh with the racks l8 and I9. The forward end of the rod 42 is provided with a wing collar 41. The rod 43 is also supported by posts 31 and 33 and is retained longitudinally by set 4 collars 49 and 59. The major portion of the rod is threaded, one-half of the threads being righthand and the other half being left-hand. Becured to the forward end of the rod is the wing collar 5| used for turning the screw and making adjustments.

The posts 31', 38 carrying the rods 42' and 48' are in all respects similar to the posts 31 and 39 and the associated mechanism hereinbefore described with the exception that the posts face in the opposite direction. Mounted on the rods 48 and 48' are pairs of vertically disposed brackets 52 and 52'. The brackets 52 are adjustably mounted on the rod for movement towards or away from each other. The vertical alignment is maintained by the plates 39 which fit in slots formed in the lower portion of the brackets. The upper end of each bracket is provided with an elongated slot 53 into which the studs 54 are adjustably mounted. The shank of the stud is flattened to suit the slot so as to prevent rotation of the stud therein. The outer diameter of the stud is reduced to receive a roller 55 which is retained thereon by a washer 55 which may be secured to the stud by a countersunk head machine screw. The washer is slightly larger in diameter than the roller to form, with the enlarged diameter of the stud 54, retaining flanges for the adhesive applying chains 51,

The chains 51 ride across the rollers 55 in a substantially horizontal plane. This section of the chains above the'rollers 55 constitutes the glue applying surface. However, due to the flexure of the chains, the strand between the rollers may not be sufllciently firm to maintain uniformity of the adhesive film and means is required to support the strand. Also it is necessary to raise the strand slightly above the rollers to avoid denting the cans if they are pressed against the chains directly over the rollers. To this end are provided the rollers 53 po itioned between the fixed rollers 55. Any number of auxiliary rollers 53 may be employed although in general practice, two rollers are the maximum number required between each set of rollers 55.

Furthermore, when it is desired to restrict the length of the adhesive strip being applied to a container to the smallest adjustment of which the machine is capable, the rollers 59 may be entirely removed. This arrangement is not practicable for containers such as cans which may be dented when pressed against the fixed rollers 55 and is substantially limited to applying very short strips of adhesive to glass jars.

The rollers 58 are supported by the shoulder studs 59 which are threadably secured to the arms 59. The arms Glare in turn pivotally mounted to the brackets 6| by flathead machine screws 62. The brackets 6| are provided with an upper bifurcated end into which the arms 35 are workably fitted to maintain proper alignment. The lower ends or the brackets are also bifurcated and adapted to engag the cross plates 39' on which the brackets are vertically supported. A thumb screw 53 passing through the plate 39' and threaded into the bracket 3| secures the bracket in place, and also facilitates removal of keyed to the countershaft 96.

to any suitable stationary member of the device such as, for example, the rod 42 as shown in Figure 4. The contractile spring 66 tends to pivot the arms 60 about the pivot point 52, thus urging the rollers 55 upwards in a yielding manner and thereby pressing the glue applying chains 51 into firm contact with the container. A stop 61 is fastened to the bracket Bl by a buttonhead machine screw 68. This stop is used to prevent excessive downward tipp n of the forward end of the arms 60 when the spring is disconnected during adjustments.

The chain 51 passes from the rollers 58 around a hardened steel rod 59. engaging the rod 69 with the back side of the chain. The rod 69 is supported by the clips II welded to the cross bar 25. Cotter pins 12 are provided to limit endwise movement of the rod 89. As the chain slips around the rod 69 it passes through a slot I3 formed in plate 14 which plate 14 serves to scrape adhesive from the side of the chain. Also the film on the upper surface of the chain is regulated to the desired depth by the bottom 15 of the slot which is adjustable towards and away from the chain. The plate 14 is provided with an upstanding bifurcated end 15 which mates with a groove in the head of the adjusting screw H. A shank of the screw is threadedly received by the scraper guiding block 18 under which the horizontal portion of the the scraper slides. The block is clamped to the cross bar 25 by carriage bolts i9 and by suitable hex nuts all. The lateral extension Bi of the block is formed with a hooklike end adapted to slip over the rod 42 thereby connecting the block to the rod. Thus as the rod is adjusted back and forth laterally, the block and scraper will move simultaneously. To permit such an adjustment, the cross bar 25 is provided with an elongated slot 82.

The chain driving sprocket i is slidably mounted on the drive shaft 83 and is driven by the key 82. This sprocket rotates within an inverted U-shaped member 94 which is secured to the plate 39. Thus the sprocket is fixed longitudinally on a shaft but is adjustable laterally as a part of the chain supporting mechanism. The drive shaft 83 is journaled in suitable oilless bearings 85 which are mounted in the packing bushings 85. These packing bushings 86 contain a suitable packing material compressed therein by the caps 88 threaded on the bushings. In this manner the leakage of the adhesive is prevented. The drive shaft extends through the bushings at both ends. On one end the set collar 89 is secured by the usual set screw to prevent lateral movement of the shaft in one direction. A driven bevel gear 90 is keyed and fastened in position by a set screw on the opposite end of the shaft. Parallel to the drive shaft and located on both sides thereof are the stationary shafts 9|. These shafts are seem-ed to the walls of the pot by cap screws 92. Mounted on the stationary shafts are the free y movable flange rollers 93. These rollers hold the chain against the drive sprocket and prevent disengagement resulting from slack in the chain during adjustment. They are retained in proper alignment with the sprocket by the contact with the chain and slide along the shaft when the position of the chains is altered.

The beveled gear so is driven by the pinion as This shaft is journaled in plain bushings mounted in bearings 91 and 98 which are bolted to the sides of the adhesive pan. The shaft is affixed longitudinally by the pinion and the set collar I. The countershaft is rotated by the V-pulley l lil driven indirectly from the main drive of the machine. This pulley is secured to a suitable clutch mechanism I02 operatively associated with the shaft -58.

While there has been described in detail mechanism for supporting and driving the chain 5|,it will be understood that this mechanism is duplicated in the parts associated with the chain In the operation of the invention, either hot or cold adhesives can be employed. When hot adhesives are employed, suitable electric heating elements are attached to the pan 5 to maintain the desired temperature.

It will be understood that the pan 5 is filled to a suitable depth with the adhesive to be employed and that the chain, sprocket, drive shaft and auxiliary flange rollers are submerged in the adhesive in the pan. The chains 51 and 5'! are first positioned in their proper spacing to suit the diameter of the container being labeled. This is accomplished by turning the rods 42 with the wing collars 41 which causes the spur pinions 45 and 45 to mesh with the racks l8 and I9 and to move the chain supporting posts 31 and 38 laterally along the lips 33 and 35. However, before doing this, the scraper securing bolts 19 are loosened to permit the scraper elements to move along with the rods 42. Each chain supporting element is adjusted individually and can thus be moved towards or away from each other or entirely in the same direction.

After the desired spacing of the chains has been established, the length of the adhesive applying strand is determined. To do this, nuts 30 which clamp the cross bar 25 in place are loosened and the cross bar is positioned towards the chain supporting rollers. This moves the chain take-up rod 69 out of tightening engagement with the chain and provides ample slack. Also the auxiliary supporting rollers are loosened for rearrangement at this time. Adjusting rod 48 or 48 is then turned by the wing collar 5| which, due to the rightand left-hand threads, moves the roller brackets 52 or 52 towards and away from each other as desired. This movement is equalized with respect to the axis of the drive shaft and the brackets are moved the same amount simultaneously.

After the spacing of the chain rollers has been effected, the cross bar 25 is pulled forward to cause the rod 69 to again take up all unnecessary slack in the chain 51 and the bar is clamped in the adjusted position by the hex nuts 30. Also the scraper :bracket is again tightened with the fastening bolts. It should be noted that an additive adjustmentis afforded by moving the device bodily upon its support on the machine frame. This is conveniently carried. out by merely loosening the clamps II and sliding the pot to the desired position.

In varying the chain back-up rollers 58 to suit the length of strand between the supporting rollers 55, the spring 66 is first disconnected from the arm 60 to remove the tension on the arm. This causes the arm to pivot about its fulcrum with its forward end dropping downward against the stop 51. The wing screw 63 is turned to release the arm supporting bracket which is thereafter slidably moved along the plate tc the necessary location and again clamped in place by the wing screw. The spring is then again connected to the arm. It should be noted that the pull oi. the spring is such as to raise the upper surface of the chain sufllciently above the rollers 55 so as to prevent any pressure against these rollers.

The chain is driven in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Figure l, traveling upwardly from the drive sprocket 10 around the take-up rod 69. In this action, the chain is continuously dragged through the adhesive and is consequentLv covered on all surfaces by the adhesive. As the chain passes through the forked end of the scraper 14, the excessive adhesive is removed and returned to the pot and the adhesive on the applying surface is reduced to a uniform depth to deliver the desired amount. The chain then passes over the supporting rollers and applies the adhesive to a container rolling thereacross. The container presses the slightly raised section of the chain slightly downward to produce a substantially horizontal strand resiliently pressing against the container and thus anniform strip of adhesive may be applied along the full length of the can body. In view of the continuous movement of the chain, no timing of the adhesive applying means with the arrival of the container is required, there being an adhesive applying surface always in position as the container rolls by.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that there has been provided a tandem chain glue applicator which is extremely versatile of adjustment. As pointed out, the entire glue applicator may be adjusted with respect to its associated labeling machine by loosening the clamps II and furthermore the chains 51 and 51- may be adjusted, as described, within the pan 5 by the wing nuts 41. In addition the length of the'glue applying portion of the chains, and hence the length of the strip of glue applied, can be adjusted by the wing nuts 5|. Also the rollers 58 and the associated mechanism may be entirely removed to permit extreme contraction of the length of the glue strip.

As a result of this versatility of adjustment the glue applicator of this invention is able to accommodate the extreme range of container sizes employed in modern industry, all of the way from large paint cans down to very small cans and jars and to apply to these containers either "full wrap or spot labeling. The provision of the drive sprocket l0 movably associated with the keyed drive shaft 83 permits the adjustment of the chains 51 and .i'l as aforesaid and constitutes a principal feature of this invention.

While there has been described what is at present considered a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention and it is intended to cover herein all such changes and modifications as come within the true scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A glue applicator of the tandem chain type comprising: a glue pan, a pair of chain supporting mechanisms associated with said pan, endless chains mounted on said chain supporting mechanisms, means for adjusting said chains and said chain supporting mechanisms towards or away from each other within said pan, and drive means for said chains, said drive means being adapted to move with said chains during adjustment thereof.

2. A glue applicator of the tandem chain type comprising: a glue pan, a pair of chain supporting mechanisms associated with said pan, endless chains mounted on said chain supporting mechanisms, means for adjusting said chains and said chain supporting mechanisms towards or away from each other within said pan tovary the distance between the stripes of glue applied by said chains, drive means for said chains, said drive means being adapted to move with said chains during adjustment thereof, said chains having a substantially horizontal glue applying portion, and means for adjusting the length of said glue applying portion.

3. A glue applicator comprising: a pan, a pair of endless chains associated with said pan, rollers for supporting said chains, support means for said rollers, means for adjusting said support means and said rollers towards or away from each other to vary the length of the stripes of glue applied by said chains, means for adjusting said support means and said chains to move said chains towards or away from each other to vary the distance between said stripes, and drive means associated with said chains movable therewith.

4. A glue applicator comprising: a pan adapted to be filled with glue, a pair of endless chains mounted in said pan, each of said chains having a pair of chain supporting rollers adapted to position a portion of said chain substantially horizontally to form a glue applying portion, each of said rollers having a supporting post, means mounting said supporting posts for adjustment of the length of said glue applying portion, means mounting said posts whereby said chains may be adjusted towards or away from each other, and drive means for said chains, said drive means being movable with said chains during adjustment.

5. A glue applicator comprising: a pan adapted to be filled with glue, a pair of endless chains mounted in said pan, each of said chains having a pair of chain supporting rollers adapted to position a portion of said chain substantially horizontally to form a glue applying portion, each of said rollers having a supporting post, means mounting said supporting posts for adjustment of the length of said glue applying portion, means mounting said posts whereby said chains may be adjusted towards or away from each other, and a drive shaft mounted in said pan, drive sprockets slidably keyed to said drive shaft and adapted to drive said chains.

6. A glue applicator comprising: a pan adapted to be filled with glue, a pair of endless chains mounted in said pan, each of said chains having a pair of supporting rollers, said supporting rollers being mounted for movement towards or away from each other, auxiliary rollers mounted between said flrst-mentioned rollers, resilient means biasing said auxiliary rollers in a vertical direction, and means for adjusting said chains and associated mechanism towards or away from each other.

7. A glue applicator for use with a container I labeling machine comprising: a pan adapted to between said first-mentioned rollers, resilient means biasing said auxiliary rollers in a vertical direction, means for adjusting said chains and associated mechanism towards or away from each labeling machine comprising: a glue pan adapted for longitudinal adjustment with respect to said labeling machine. a pair of glue applying endless chains mounted in said glue pan, each of said glue applying chains having a pair of chain supporting rollers, said rollers being adjustable towards and away from each other to vary the length of a horizontal glue applying portion of said chain, each of said chains and its associated rollers being adjustable towards or away from the other chain to vary the distance between said chains, and drive means associated with said chains.

9. A glue applicator for use with a container labeling machine comprising: a glue pan adapted for longitudinal adjustment with respect to said labeling machine, a pair of glue applying endless chains mounted in said glue pan, each of said glue applying chains having a pair of chain supporting rollers, said rollers being adjustable towards and away from each other to vary the length of a horizontal glue applying portion of said chain, each of said chains and its associated rollers being adjustable towards or away from the REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 181,338 Henry Aug. 22, 1876 414,568 Paine et a1 Nov. 5, 1889 858,542 -Rummel et al July 2, 1907 1,995,073 Morral Mar. 19, 1935 2,045,881 Strider June 30, 1936 2,079,321 Kyler May 4, 1937 2,176,393 Edge Oct. 17, 1939 2,206,964 Kimball et a1 July 9, 1940 2,348,800 Fredrickson May 16, 1944 

